#spring feeling in the air

[darlinganddomovoiye]

The change in weather has me feeling hopeful~ like it’s time to dream and drive and dance💛

[sparkly-sediment]

STUDY OF MERCS HIERARCHY PRETTY PLEASE 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Tf2 Mercs Social Hierarchy Analysis

I’m a slut for anthropology

The general idea is

Older mercs as the group elders

Introverted mercs often fill a service role

Extroverted maintain the social climate

The younger and louder the less in charge BUT can be more effective in maintenance peace within the group

The elders can offer advice and wisdom to the younger group members and a sense of care and support.

Medic is arguably the most important to their order!!

He’s not only one of the oldest but the caretaker of the group. Other mercs may have varying relationships but Medic has a unique position to connect and exert authority over everyone else because he tends to their wounds! This also creates a base level trust in him across the board

Scout and others mention their distrust of Medic but they undeniably need him and give in (or submit!!) in 1 on 1 situations because of his position as a caretaker. You can also see in the comics and sfm videos that Medic’s word holds authority

This also allows those closest to Medic to absorb some lateral authority even while having their own

Engineer and Heavy are next in line

Both are capable of harboring a caring spirit (heightened by they age and both being relatively chill)

Both expert authority through age, contribution to the team, and intelligence/size respectively

Not to diminish Dr. Heavy but he doesn’t need to use his intellect to compensate for size like Engineer

Heavy and Medic are the mommy and daddy imo but that is slightly fanon and this analysis is more canon. Just a thought tho

Engineer assumes leadership because of his intellect. His word is highly valuable to the team, but because he is articulate and carries himself like an educated man, he can intimidate others (or give off an air of disrespect) Since he is the only one capable of his work, he gains respect.

Heavy is accustomed to being a caretaker and needing to make decisions for the benefit of a group (his family!) He carries a sense of responsibility for others that Engineer lacks and so may be seen as more approachable

Heavy is the alpha female

^ this is supported by Scout constantly fucking with him!! Young ones challenge mother as they age! In the videos and comics Scout is an itty bitty menace to this man, but it isn’t out of malice. Heavy is a safe group elder and may be sought out for emotional connection more-so than Engineer, who others may seek for practical advice

Again, Medic is in a unique position to provide both if sought because of the inherent emotional vulnerability that comes with being wounded and in pain

In my opinion, those are the three chiefs. The council

Spy, Soldier, and Demo

Spy is a difficult one to place. He’s got enough influence in the group to have a higher status, but isn’t as emotionally involved with the others and can be quick to hurt feelings 😭

he’s like the stray male chimp who’s a little grey and has a chipped tooth. Others acknowledge a level of authority when he enters the enclosure, but it’s often contemptuous.

He does show care but quietly. This reservation + his age and professionalism makes him distant from the others, but nonetheless an important member of the team.

Soldier is the wild card

Grown, aggressive, protective

He doesn’t consider (or even realize) how violent he is and so the others know not to fuck with him

They also know he’s a silly pants

Soldier linking up with Heavy’s sister is actually fitting considering their roles in the group. Heavy’s the mom of the wolf group, Soldier is the promising but willy bastard who pines for mama’s daughter (sister only works for humans)

Demo is a true middle man. He’s cared for and has a good relationship with everyone. His relationships go to varying depths but overall he’s well liked. His alcoholism and emotional issues put him in a position of less authority but more room for personal connection

Sniper has more respect within the group than Spy, but lacks his authority

He’s young and relatively reserved. But, he clearly knows his shit. Being good at his job and a decent man means that Sniper would be up and coming in a tribal setting (young warrior yet to take a wife core) . He doesn’t have as much influence as more senior mercs, but if he speaks they do listen

Scout isn’t a runt exactly, but he’s the bitch

If these were chimpanzees, Scout may possible be kicked out of the band for challenging authority

The others lowkey treat him like shit because he is so young, restless, and a little fuck

His behavior is a cycle.

Feel insecure, act tough, be dominated (not in the freaky way) by others, feel insecure, so on and so forth

Young buck with something to prove. He is cared for, though, and learns from the others.

In some Native American tribes, once children became of a certain age, they would go live with their eldest sister to learn how to grow spiritually and physically. That’s where Scouts at in life

Geisha in training

Pyro is some secret third thing. He’s the mystic. The out skirts and uncomfortable and feared above all else

Poor guy. Lonely. Scout is the only once who can be forced to socialize with Pyro because of his rank in the litter

It’s worth noting that there is a significant trauma bond between all nine

People who would never interact otherwise watch each other kill and die? Hell yeah you’re loyal to them, our brains are wired to be

But they do bond in other ways!!

Gossip strengthens social bonds!!

Mercs be talking mad shit

Heavy and Medic? Gossiping in the medbay

Scout reports everything to Sniper

Sniper, Engineer, and Demo are like high school girls

Soldier and Demo can probably telepathically communicate

I suspect Spy will randomly spill SCALDING tea to mainly Medic, Engineer, and Heavy. Sometimes Sniper

Pyro is omnipotent

In such an unhealthy environment this is so important!! It keeps everyone humble and involved socially

Also:

Groups that groom together stay together and so the communal shower and clean up after work is critical for their relationships

I cannot understate how important it is

Instead of picking small bugs out of each other’s pelts, they pass shampoo and towels. This lowers inhibitions between group members and in stressful situations (maybe Spy is being a real dick or Soldier is fucking tweaking) the shared vulnerability allows for a reset

The mercs assume different roles

Medic is the main caretaker, but Heavy and at times Engineer can also provide a paternal vibe to some

Spy fucking can’t LMAO but he does offer considerate action, and his work is incredibly important. He’s respected and appreciated for his work but is socially difficult at times

Sniper and Scout are both young challengers but at different stages

Scout is a page Sniper is a knight evolution wise. They are treated as such and have a special connection with each other for being close in age/status (and status is different from opinion 😭)

Soldier is an aggressive uncle and Demo is the counterbalance aunt. Usually the goons the others plan how to use and valued for their hard work

Think the proficient hunters in a tribe. Not the best but certainly not the worst, and the tribe always appreciates what they find

Pyro is that thing in the basement of AHS season one that Tate unleashes upon people he dislikes

Medic and Engineers are the leaders

Miss Pauling could never live with the mercs and maintain her position of power

She’s good at her job and an overall bad bitch. She demands respect, but isn’t at the point of commanding it like the administrator

The disconnect between her and the mercs allow for an air of mystery and thus authority!

Quick disclaimer!!!

In this analysis, I use the word alpha on occasion. Please know that any a/b/o dynamic in nature is completely unfounded. There are social hierarchies and dominant/submissive members in social groups across species, and I only use to the term alpha because it’s easier than typing out things like dominant and this is tumblr. Alpha funny i go haha. But alpha not necessarily scientific

Also, this is just for funsies! I am not an anthropologist by any means just neurodivergent and have a special interest in everything early modern human (specifically 10,000-13,000 years ago but all over too)

Encino Man lover ❤️‍🔥

[londonadayatatime]

Dashes of Light, Splashes of Light, April 2024

[absolutebl]

BLs with Strong Historical Elements

Costume dramas, historical BLs, and BLs with time travel or flashbacks to historical locations & times.

These are in order of my personal preference, best at the top.

I Feel You Linger in the Air

2023 Thailand

IFYLITA is an exquisite BL, from filming techniques to narrative framework (much like Until We Meet Again). It's about a gay man from our time who falls into the past, becomes a servant to a noble house, and falls in love with the heir. It turns out this has all happened several times before. Steeped in history and family drama it edges into lakorn (but not as much as To Sir With Love and with way less scenery chewing). This is an elegant and classy soulmates BL... from Thailand which normally doesn't even try for classy. The main couple (both as a pair and as individuals) were excellent, particularly Bright (Yai) whose eye-work acting style is a personal favorite of mine. Pity about the ending. Oh it wasn’t that sad but it wasn’t good either. This show could easily have earned a 10/10 from me except that it fumbled the… erm… balls in the final quarter. Argh. Whatever.

Nobleman Ryu's Wedding

2021 Korea - WeTV

A boy cross-dresses to take his runaway sister's place as a bride to a shy scholar, turns out they like being married. A historical setting allowed this BL to use some seriously old fashioned romance tropes (arranged marriage, evil step-sisters, Cinderfella) but also modern BL stylings like fake relationship & secret identity (drag) plus some cute gay panic. It reminded me of 12th Night more than anything else which just happens to be my favorite Shakespeare play. For all these reasons, I adored it.

(the ghat kiss!)

Tinted With You

2022 Korea - Viki

Fun stylish time travel meets portal fantasy with a likable cast, historical setting, and two actual kisses that mitigate the rough plot and issues around anachronisms.

Word of Honor

2021 China (censored) - Viki/YouTube?

I don’t rec Chinese stuff often, because I believe in censoring the censors, but this show is one of my favorites of the post 2016 censored bromances. It’s two murder-gay assassins (pining sunshine/tsundere), and they are so insanely gay for two boys who will never be allowed to kiss. Tropes include: wuxia, soulmates, paranormal, historical, and fantasy elements.

To Sir, With Love AKA Khun Chai

2022 Thailand - YouTube?

This is a true lakorn (basically Thai tellenovella or soap opera) with scenery chewing performances, especially from the mother characters. Gone With the Wind + Days of Our Lives but gay. That said? I loved it: A glorious central brother relationship (the best, made me cry), het romances, class divide + gay *gasp* main romance - oh my word, the campy drama of it all! Arranged marriage, rebellion, cut sleeves, over-the-top death with curses and regrets, beautiful if inaccurate costumes, secrets unraveling, cover ups, sparkle murder, sex herbs, coils within coils including snakes and murderous green metallic sequins (is anything gayer on this earth?). It’s a WILD ride but it does end happy for our gay boys. A man cries when he finds DEATH GLITTER. Come on! You haffa watch it. That said, like Manner of Death I struggle to rate something on a BL scale when it patently isn’t a BL. So I ended up giving this exactly what I gave that show, 7/10 I enjoyed it a whole lot, but not as a BL.

The Untamed (Special BL Edition)

2020 China (censored) - YouTube

Censored wuxia bromance, amorphous ending. Probubly the best known BL of its kind out of China and responsible for bring many fans to the BL side.

Our Skyy 2: Never Let Me Go

2023 Thailand - YouTube

I was nervous to watch this PondPhuwin vehicle but I liked it a lot! Doomed soulmates + paranormal time travel to fix the past. I’m happy for the outfits and the dancing (if not the singing). It’s not a bad premise and it’s nice to see GMMTV lean into its high production values for a change. I'd adore a full historical starring these two and this was definitely the best of the second series of Our Skyy. I don't think you have to have watched the original Never Let Me Go to enjoy this.

Legend of Long Yang: Rebirth

2017 China

Gaga

Whipping boy trope... literally, servant character takes the strap for the prince, who then makes him his bodyguard and lover when he becomes king. Low budget historical, comes off as kind of cosplay wuxia version of Irresistible Love, but we get (in the credits) an actual kiss, and they both live. So yay for small mercies.

The Director Who Buys Me Dinner

2023 Korea (historical flash backs)

iQIYI

A new employee at a film company encounters a director who claims to have lived 300 years and insists that they have to date (eat, hug & kiss) if baby doesn't want to die. It has a lot of Japanese elements, not the least of which are: an office setting, the fact that every character in this show is unhinged, and a killing of the gays. Featuring a gorgeous & stellar cast, TDWBMD should have utilized them less for melodrama and more for chemistry. This BL surprised me by going there with a lipstick mark AND an actually gay idol. But (you knew there was a but) while it's a unique twist on an office romance it is NOT a unique twist on the doomed red thread trope, resulting in it feeling less than the sum of its parts and ultimately unsatisfying. This might have also had to do with the fact that this was one of those KBLs where I felt how very short it was the whole time I was watching, like I was missing something constantly, in every episode. Worth watching for some but seriously flawed.

First Love Again

2022 Korea (historical flash backs) - Viki

A popular novelist who remembers his past lives meets his soulmate for the third time, only to find she has been reincarnated into the body of a man. This one started out a touch mean-spirited, but we eventually got a good kiss. The confession/rejection scene was justified and the reconciliation and ending was... fine. All in all, the pacing felt rushed and the romantic arc was underdeveloped. They go from like to love to boyfriends in a red hot minute. But that’s par for the course with Korea’s short form. If you don’t mind a heavy does of melodrama in your BL this one has a solid story with a strong concept that’s well acted and produced, making it a classic KBL with better than average chemistry but ultimately a touch forgettable.

Love in Spring AKA Spring of Crush

2022 Korea

This show was all over the place with uneven acting, narrative, and focus (sometimes it wanted to be a slapstick comedy, sometimes a depressing melodrama) which meant no one, actors or viewers, took anyone or anything seriously.... AND it’s a bromance. I was left wondering if SalHyung is now code for “they were roommates” in Kdrama historicals but otherwise largely apathetic and unimpressed. Korea, I now know you can do better. Do better.

Mermaid's Jade

2019 China (censored-esk) - Gaga

Kills the gay.

The Male Queen: Han Zi Gao

2016 China - Gaga

Kills the gay. Schrodinger's BL, both a BL and entirely not one at the same time.

Diary of Heong Yeong Dang

2014 Korea

Kills the Gay

I was gonna do a top 10 list, but there aren't enough by my metrics, so many end sadly.

This post at the behest of @verymuchof thank you for the idea!

Dated April 2023, includes only BLs that had finished their run by that date. Not responsible for cool costume flix that come after that. But you should check the comments to see if any have been added by others!

I might have missed a few that only have time historical elements since I don't always track those.

Also I would like to point out a decided lack of Japan on this list. My ninja yaoi consuming tiny past self is VERY upset about this void.

WHERE ARE MY GAY NINJAS??!!!

(source)

[novasintheroom]

today feels like a prince!vash arranged marriage au kind of day 🌼🌼

[allbeendonebefore]

Every weekend I think finally some time to spend by myself being creative and my parents are like let's turn on every single thing that makes noise in the house and then have conversations over them

[warmcoals]

it's like mob says. your life is your own.

[zakiyah]

.

[vlindervin7]

"Work Without Hope" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

[zyana-wyvern]

That moment when it’s 5:30 PM and the sky isn’t completely dark anymore.

We’re so back, Northern Hemisphere!! Summer is coming!

[londonadayatatime]

Soft Light Filtering Through, April 2024

[mcbride]

the last couple of weeks were literally hell. i got the worst case of flu i can actually remember. i finally feel human, but i've been totally drained out of all energy. not even covid got me this hard.

[hollowflight-propaganda]

I think it's time I change my bio to say it's been 11 years since I started to watch Ninjago.....

Gosh. Where's my senior discount on the lego sets, huh?

[applecoreart]

It's springtime now 🌸

[tears-that-heal]

It's officially SPRING 🌸🌷🌼

And I'm dealing with some bad allergies. 😣🥺🤧

I've had only a few experiences with pollen allergies, but this time I originally thought I caught a cold or something. *sigh* I know I'm probably being a baby about it all, but I'm already tired from trying to breath properly. My sinus aren't happy at all. Yep, I think it is as intense as having a cold or flu. 😪 These west texas winds are wrestling up so much dirt and pollen into the air that I may need to where a face mask daily. 😷 It simply seems like my body is always having issues with something. That alone is super tiresome. *blah*

[elisaenglish]

Incendiary Delights Unfictioned

A coterie of wildflowers tempt us with the flame, but you should know. You’re here—and I am burning...